Final Coil Biography
Final Coil began their musical life in howls of feedback and chaos – a raging entity that tore up stages. Gradually, that energy was channelled into smoother paths, the band looking deeper into themselves and their music, discovering how much more their individual abilities could create. Under the guiding hand of founding member Phil Stiles, the line-up shifted to reflect the change in focus and the Closed To The Light EP emerged in 2015, highlighting the band’s style so effectively that Italian record label WormHoleDeath immediately signed them. Throughout 2016 Final Coil worked on their debut full-length album, Persistence of Memory, which was unveiled in 2017.
The band finished the year with a flurry of well-received live shows and, with a long-term management deal in place with Imperative PR, the press continued to pick up on Persistence Of Memory throughout 2018. Away from the stage, the band began work on a more ambitious set of material and, in September, Final Coil set off for Italy and Real Sound Studios to record their sophomore effort. The new songs showcased a newfound heaviness and maturity and, while the album was being mixed Final Coil managed to fit in live shows with OHHMS, Boss Keloid, Zero Point Zero, and Staghorn. Meanwhile, aside from his work with Final Coil, Phil Stiles made guest appearances on albums from The Way of Purity and prog rock royalty, Glass Hammer, and launched a dark ambient solo project.
2019 began with an appearance at HRH Metal III, with Final Coil playing to a large and appreciative audience. Next up, Fusion Festival 2019, which featured prog legends like Focus and IO Earth, saw the band play their new album in full. It was followed by the April 12th release of The World We Left Behind For Others. The album, inspired by a collection of family letters discovered by front man Phil Stiles, made a powerful impression on fans and critics alike, and the band celebrated with two prestigious London dates, firstly with Shonen Knife at the Underworld, and then as direct support to legendary Marky Ramone at The Garage.
Concluding this chapter, the band released the Convicted Of The Right EP, which featured the title track and three Final Coil classics recorded live at The Lab studios in London. As the positive press began to flow, the band returned to the studio and began work on album number three…
Unfortunately, just as tracking began at Parlour Studios, with the legendary Russ Russell (Dimmu Borgir, Napalm Death), Covid-19 struck. Recording slowed and gigs were either cancelled or morphed into on-line events, including a second spot at Fusion Festival, where Final Coil took part in the Christmas Cracker event in 2020. Rather than submit a standard set, the band completely reimagined songs from their back catalogue, taking them into new realms – an endeavour very much in keeping with the festival’s progressive outlook. Such was the success of this project, that Final Coil decided to expand upon it with the Somnambulant II EP – the band’s final release to date via WormholeDeath.
When the restrictions finally came to an end, Final Coil returned to the studio to conclude their third album. Titled The World We Inherited, it provided a powerful conclusion to the trilogy begun with Persistence of Memory. Starker and heavier than its predecessors, the album was snapped up by Sliptrick Records, and the first taste the world experienced was the crushing Chemtrails, a dark slab of paranoia, garnished with an amazing conceptual video clip. With live shows planned throughout 2024, new material underway, and an updated line up, Final Coil are back with a vengeance.
“…too much awesomeness to mention.”
– ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
Genre: Post Rock /Progressive Metal / Alternative Rock
For fans of: Kings X | Alice In Chains | Soundgarden | Tool
Band Members:
Phil Stiles: Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Synths and Programming
Richard Awdry: Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals and Programming
Jola Stiles: Bass Guitar and Flute
Gee Neale: Drums
Former Members
Dan Brown: Drums (2020 – 2023)
Barry French: Drums (2018 – 2020)
Tony ‘Chez’ Hughes: Drums (2014-2018)
Tom Malin: Drums (2011 – 2014)
Discography
For more information see the Discography page
2011: Live with Doubt EP – Self Released
2014: Somnambulant EP – Self Released
2015: Closed to the Light EP – Self Released
2017: Persistence of Memory – WormHoleDeath (WHD118)
2019: The World We Left Behind For others – WormHoleDeath (WHD)
2020: Convicted Of The Right EP – WormHoleDeath (WHD)
2021: Somnambulant I (2021 Remix & Remaster) – Self Released
2021: Somnambulant II – WormHoleDeath (WHD)
2024: The World We Inherited – Sliptrick Records